Abstract: A warp-knitted textile fabric adapted for use in activewear apparel and characterized by a matte surface effect, resistance to snagging, and relatively uniform stretchability in widthwise and lengthwise directions, the fabric having a three-bar warp knitted structure comprised of first and second sets of body yarns and a third set of elastic yarns interknitted in a Raschel-type stitch pattern wherein one of the sets of body yarns is knitted in a double needle overlap pattern.

Abstract: Dyed polyester fabrics may be printed with a plastisol printing composition substantially without dissolving the dye in the polyester fabric by initially applying a blocking composition to the fabric to form a printing receptor barrier, after curing of the blocking composition, imprinting the plastisol in a desired image or pattern onto the barrier and finally curing the print. The barrier substantially separates the fabric and the plastisol from one another to prevent chemical interaction between the printing composition and the dye in the polyester fabric, thereby to prevent undesired discoloration of the printing composition.

Abstract: The physical properties of an elastane, i.e. spandex, filament may be selectively altered basically by stretching the filament to a selected degree while heating the filament to a selected temperature above its glass transition temperature to set the filament at a reduced denier and a reduced degree of elongation. The tenacity of the filament may increase or decrease depending upon variable parameters of the methodology. The method may be performed on a single elastane filament or simultaneously on multiple filaments, e.g., in a draw warping operation.

Abstract: A textile fabric for dissipating electrostatic charges achieves remarkably low surface resistivity by forming into a fabric ground structure a matrix of electrically conducted yarns wherein electrical connections between the yarns are made by plural successive interconnections of two electrically conductive yarns, e.g., by plating electrically conductive yarns across multiple successive stitches in a knitted fabric ground structure.

Abstract: A knitted textile fabric containing integrated fluid-carrying tubes is fabricated of yarn formed into interlooped stitches arranged in longitudinal wales and transverse courses throughout the fabric structure, with plural elongate hollow tubular segments integrated with the yarn into the fabric structure and spaced essentially in parallel relation to one another. The fabric structure is preferably warp knitted, one embodiment of which has the tubular segments extending longitudinally in selected spaced wales and another embodiment of which has the tubular segments extending coursewise in selected spaced courses.

Abstract: A three-bar moldable warp knitted fabric having a satin-like technical back suitable for use in forming seamless molded breast cups for women's brassieres is produced on a Raschel warp knitting machine by knitting satin-effect yarns on the machine's bottom bar in coursewise extended underlaps producing the satin-like technical back of the fabric, knitting high elongation-high shrinkage monofilament POY draw-warped polyester yarns on the machine's middle bar to form a stabilized fabric ground structure, and inlaying elastic yarns with the machine's top bar to impart a compacted stitch density to the fabric when relaxed. When placed over a heated molding surface of a breast cup mold, the ground yarns shrink sufficiently and become heat set to collapse the fabric into a permanent shape conforming to the molding surface, the elastic yarns maintaining sufficient stitch density in the molded fabric to retain a uniform satin-like surface effect at the fabric's technical back.

Abstract: A composite yarn and a method for forming the composite yarn include the composite yarn being formed from different components wherein the resultant yarn exhibits characteristics not apparent from the individual component yarns with the composite yarn being formed from a first component yarn strand and a second component yarn strand with the first and second component strands being comingled using an entanglement device with the co-mingling occurring with the first and second component strands subject to a first tension value which is subsequently increased to a second, higher tension value for winding. A method for forming such a composite yarn includes propelling the strands through the entanglement device at a first tension value, entangling the strands, imparting a second tension value to the resultant entangled strands and winding the entangled strands.

Abstract: In an underwire brassiere, a generally inelastic and dimensionally stable two-bar warp knitted fabric is provided as a covering for the underwire. One set of warp yarns is knitted in a pattern of coursewise spaced stitches with extended underlaps and another set of warp yarns is knitted in a chain stitch pattern, collectively providing warpwise and coursewise stability and elongation resistance to the fabric. The run-in ratio of the two sets of warp yarns imparts a controlled coursewise inclination to the chain stitches enabling a predetermined degree of walewise elongation for better conformation of the fabric to the underwire in fabrication of the brassiere.

Abstract: A three-bar warp knitted fabric whose technical face has a pattern of coursewise and walewise arrayed pleated sections is produced on a three-bar warp knitting machine by knitting ground yarns on the machine's middle bar to provide a fabric base or ground, knitting pleat-forming yarns on the machine's top bar in extended walewise floats over selected groups of courses at the technical back of the fabric to cause the ground to gather into coursewise pleats at the technical face, and knitting tie-down yarns on the machine's bottom bar in an alternating in-out pattern to appear at the technical face only in selected spaced groups of wales wherein the tie-down yarns also float over the selected groups of courses to define the coursewise pleats into an array of discrete pleated sections.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling twist in a tubular knitted fabric being withdrawn from a circular knitting machine includes an annular twist control member rotatably mounted to the circular knitting machine for disposition within the tube of the fabric. The twist control member is independently rotatable from the other rotational aspects of the circular knitting machine and frictionally imparts counter rotation to the fabric to prevent twist. Optionally, various rotations of the twist control member may be achieved to reduce or impart twist as desired.

Abstract: A warp-knitted shoe liner fabric of a three-bar construction having a three-dimensional compressible character in the fabric's thickness dimension with a pattern of elongated coursewise underlaps at the fabric's technical back which, in use, is to be oriented to face inwardly of the interior foot-receiving area of the shoe. The fabric is preferably finished with dye bath-carrying anti-microbial/anti-fungal and wicking enhancement agents, and also has silicone and acrylic polymers applied to resist fraying and abrasion and improve the fabric softness.

Abstract: A velvet fabric is produced by warp knitting on a three-bar warp knitting machine by knitting ground yarns on the machine's middle bar to provide structural and dimensional integrity to the fabric and pile yarns on the machine's top bar in extended underlaps which are shearable, nappable, brushable, or otherwise raisable to produce an upstanding raised pile. In order to resist any tendency of the pile yarn to be pulled from the fabric, the present invention contemplates that the pile yarns should be microdenier multifilament synthetic yarns while the ground yarns should also be multifilament synthetic yarns of a relatively low denier per filament not exceeding approximately 1.5 denier per filament and of a total collective denier approaching but not exceeding that of the pile yarns, preferably in excess of about 75 percent of the total denier of the pile yarns.

Abstract: A three-bar warp knitted fabric whose technical back has both a satin-like surface and a walewise ribbed effect is produced on a three-bar warp knitting machine by knitting ground yarns on the machine's middle bar to provide structural and dimensional integrity to the fabric, knitting satin-effect yarns on the machine's top bar in extended underlaps to produce a satin-like technical back of the fabric, and inlaying elastic yarns from the machine's bottom bar in a two-in, one-out alternating pattern to create the appearance of walewise ribs in the satin-like technical back surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for wet processing of textile fabric in endless rope form is disclosed which basically comprises a processing vessel, dual oppositely-extending fabric travel paths within the vessel for lengthwise movement of the fabric in successive alternation through the two travel paths, and dual lifter reels and jet nozzles between the adjacent entrance and exit ends of the respective travel paths, providing more positive continuous fabric traveling movement, increased fabric processing capacity, and reduced fabric processing time in comparison to conventional wet processing operations utilizing a single lifter reel, jet nozzle, and fabric travel path.

Abstract: A strand guiding device for use with a circular knitting machine for guiding strand material from a plurality of strand material packages to a generally circular array of reciprocating knitting needles movably mounted to the frame includes a support mounted to the frame and a pair of guide wheels rotatably mounted to the support and having a generally V-shaped strand contract surface formed therein for directing the traveling strands from the packages into a disposition for operational engagement by the knitting needles, the wheels being disposed in a spaced relationship in generally linear alignment and adjustably mounted to the support.

Abstract: An apparatus for shearing, tigering, napping or other surface treatment of a finite length of a textile fabric, particularly pile and plush fabrics, is disclosed which is especially adapted for experimental research and development usage in a laboratory setting. The apparatus includes a rotatably driven roller having a fabric surface-engaging periphery and an arm assembly for supporting the fabric piece for presentation to the roller, the arm assembly being movable between a fabric-loading position spaced from the roller and a treatment position in close adjacency to the roller.

Abstract: Apparatus for festooning a traveling length of textile fabric or other web-like material comprises a frame supporting a pair of opposed spaced endless conveyor chains across which a plurality of fabric support rods are removably carried by the conveyor chains in succession with one another for supporting an individual festoon of the fabric depending between each successively adjacent pair of the rods. A secondary conveyor arrangement at the fabric entrance end of the frame is operative to temporarily remove each succeeding fabric support rod from the conveyor chains and, after a selected dwell time, to replace each removed rod onto the conveyor chains to control the festooning accumulation of the fabric on the support rods.

Abstract: An apparatus for take-up of textile fabric from a fabric producing machine is equipped with a fabric take-up frame, a fabric take-up roll supported on the frame for fabric winding thereabout, and a variable speed drive motor arrangement for rotating the take-up roll. A transducer roll or other suitable arrangement monitors tension in the fabric between the fabric producing machine and the take-up frame and is associated with a microprocessor or other controller to adjust the drive motor speed as necessary to maintain fabric tension in accordance with a predetermined tension program as the fabric is wound on the take-up roll, either for purposes of maintaining constant fabric tension or programmed tension variation over the winding operation. The take-up frame is separable from and movable independently of the fabric producing machine for transporting a fabric after a take-up operation to a subsequent processing station without rewinding of the fabric.

Abstract: A warp-knitted shoe liner fabric of a three-bar construction having a three-dimensional compressible character in the fabric's thickness dimension with a pattern of elongated coursewise underlaps at the fabric's technical back which, in use, is to be oriented to face inwardly of the interior foot-receiving area of the shoe. The fabric is preferably finished with dye bath-carrying anti-microbial/anti-fungal and wicking enhancement agents, and also has silicone and acrylic polymers applied to resist fraying and abrasion and improve the fabric softness.

Abstract: A lightweight warp knitted textile fabric suitable for use as the loop component of a hook-and-loop fastener is formed of a set of ground yarns knitted in a relatively stretchable construction with a set of loop-forming yarns formed in a stitch pattern producing elongated underlap loops extending outwardly from the technical back of the fabric which can be readily interengaged with the hook elements of a mating hook component without any necessity for brushing, napping or mechanically raising the loops. In one embodiment, a second set of loop-forming yarns is formed in a stitch pattern producing elongated loops extending outwardly from the technical face of the fabric which can be adhered to a backing material such as a carpet backing. In another embodiment, filling yarn is inserted weftwise in every fabric course.